“I’ve traveled the world, (but) I never thought of myself different than anyone in the room. I’ve never been too cocky about it, or talked about it.”

Now, he's trying to do his own thing.

“I’ve always wanted to carve my path,” Stewart said. “I didn’t want to be Rod Stewart’s son who really does nothing. … I wanted to do my own thing, get out of California, meet new people, like the boys.”

Stewart, who said he fell in love with the game as a 3- or 4-year-old attending Rangers games, turned heads in Spokane at 15 after earning an invitation to a WHL identification camp, where he won a 1 1/2 mile run.

“That was very impressive,” general manager Tim Speltz said. “His fitness test was unbelievable, which tells you there’s an athlete there or a guy who’s worked very hard.”

The 6-1, 180-pounder is a smart, defense-first forward who easily won respect and friends in the locker room, according to coach Don Nachbaur.

Meanwhile, Hunter, who dated NHL players Jarrett Stoll and Sean Avery in the past, followed her son to Washington and supports him wholly.

“I love it up there,” she said. “I want to be a part of it as much as I can. … to see him reaching his goal and his dream. Seeing all the kids, because it’s such a team sport … is what’s really impressive and cool. You do what you can with your kids. Liam’s as happy as anything up there.”